Microbead analysis method and microbead analyzer

Abstract

Provided is a microbead analysis method for a microbead. The microbead is formed in a columnar shape having a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, as placed almost in parallel, and a side surface extending therefrom, and carries an identification pattern formed on at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface and a substance immobilized on a surface thereof having affinity to an analyte substance. The method includes detecting fluorescence emitted from the microbead surface due to interaction of the analyte substance with the substance having affinity to the analyte substance from a region including a region of the top surface and the bottom surface where there is no identification pattern formed and the side surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microbead analyzer for use in analysis of a microbead carrying an identification pattern on a surface thereof, comprising:
 an image-acquiring means for obtaining a transmission image and a fluorescence image of the microbead;   means for detecting the identification pattern from the transmission image; and   means for detecting fluorescence from a region where the identification pattern of the microbead is not formed in the fluorescence image.   
     
     
         2 . The microbead analyzer according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a measurement substrate for placement of the microbead,
 wherein a surface of the measurement substrate and the image-acquiring means are placed to face each other, and the measurement substrate is surface-roughened. 
   
     
     
         3 . A microbead analyzer for use in analysis of a microbead formed in a columnar shape having a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, as placed almost in parallel, and a side surface extending therefrom, and carrying an identification pattern formed on least one of the top surface and the bottom surface thereof, comprising:
 an image-acquiring means for transmission image, for obtaining a transmission image of the microbead; and   an image-acquiring means for fluorescence image, for obtaining a fluorescence image of the microbead,   wherein the image-acquiring means for transmission image obtains a transmission image of one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the microbead, and   wherein the image-acquiring means for fluorescence image obtains a fluorescence image of the side surface of the microbead.   
     
     
         4 . The microbead analyzer according to  claim 3 , further comprising a channel,
 wherein the image-acquiring means for transmission image and the image-acquiring means for fluorescence image obtain an image of the microbead flowing in the channel.   
     
     
         5 . A microbead analyzer for use in analysis of a microbead carrying an identification pattern on a surface thereof, comprising:
 an image-acquiring section to obtain a transmission image and a fluorescence image of the microbead;   a first section to detect the identification pattern from the transmission image; and   a second section to detect fluorescence from a region where the identification pattern of the microbead is not formed in the fluorescence image.   
     
     
         6 . A microbead analyzer for use in analysis of a microbead formed in a columnar shape having a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, as placed almost in parallel, and a side surface extending therefrom, and carrying an identification pattern formed on least one of the top surface and the bottom surface thereof, comprising:
 an image-acquiring section for transmission image, to obtain a transmission image of the microbead; and   an image-acquiring section for fluorescence image, to obtain a fluorescence image of the microbead,   wherein the image-acquiring section for transmission image obtains a transmission image of one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the microbead, and   wherein the image-acquiring section for fluorescence image obtains a fluorescence image of the side surface of the microbead.